Sunday, December 16, 2012

-- Here's one way to look at Charlotte's nonconference schedule -- which has been criticized as being too soft (perhaps justifiably so), but was not assembled with an eye on helping the 49ers (10-1) get an at-large NCAA tournament berth -- that's not the goal yet of this young team):

The 49ers beat eight of their first nine opponents convincingly on the way to a 9-0 start -- only Davidson was close in the final minute or so. To fall flat the way they did against Miami wasn't what the 49ers wanted, but they have the chance now against Kennesaw and Wednesday against Radford to get back on track. Then they can measure themselves again against Florida State on Saturday, taking the lessons of Miami into it (most importantly, to expect the Seminoles to come at them hard early in the game). Then comes what will be a challenge against UNC Asheville on Jan. 2 before heading into Atlantic 10 play.

-- Kennesaw State's 3-point percentage was 26.5 entering the game. The Owls made 5-of-6 from long range in the first half (tailing off in the second half to finish 6 of 16).

-- Kennesaw State's Convocation Center is small by Division I standards (4,600 capacity), but it is relatively new (built in 2005) and has a very impressive looking, large video board at one end that was installed last summer. The only banner hanging in the building signifies Kennesaw's 2004 Division II national championship.

-- Charlotte center Chris Braswell struggled offensively in the first half, scoring just three points (on three free throws). But he played well defensively, with two steals and one block (although he had another that he wasn't credited with).

-- 49ers point guard Pierria Henry had another solid floor game, scoring seven points (on 3-of-4 shooting, with two assists and four steals (he also had three turnovers).

David Scott its obvious your partial to Alan Major in your reporting but do you know anything about basketball? When your PG(Pierria Henry) has more turnovers than assits, that is not "a solid floor game".

So the goal is to not make post season (according to article)? Why not? Even during Bobby's final year we were discussed about going to post season. He was fired because he only won 19 games that year against much stiffer competition. This makes no sense.

"So the goal is to not make post season (according to article)? Why not? Even during Bobby's final year we were discussed about going to post season. He was fired because he only won 19 games that year against much stiffer competition. This makes no sense."

Good morning, Mr. Revisionist Historian. Lutz was fired because:1) He had not made the NCAA in 4 years.2) The last team started 19-4 and managed to botch the end of the season so badly we weren't even close to getting a bid.3) He and his coaching staff had become so clueless they sent 6 guys onto the floor at the end of the last home game against UMass. The resulting technical foul (both shots made) and ensuing possession (UMass scored), ended all hope of winning that game.

It was obvious that Lutz was no longer "all in." He had lost the team (well, other than Shamari Spears) and it was time for him to go.

All you people screaming at the top of your lungs about how horrible this schedule is and that Major should be shot for compiling it - where were you when this schedule was announced? Oh, yeah, that's right, you were right here, screaming for Major's head because we were going to go 4-26 or whatever.

There's an easy explanation for the poor schedule. Remember that we only had half a team in '09-10 and finished with 20 losses. Last year, we finally fielded a full team and went 13-17. This year, we have 6 freshmen & sophomores playing major minutes - actually, the roster is Braswell and a bunch of freshmen & sophomores. So Major put together a light schedule that matched their ages. When we end up with 19 or 20 wins an an NIT bid, and when the two 7-footers Major has recruited arrive next year, the schedule will be more competitive.

And there are things that were out of our control. It's not Alan Major's fault that the best team in the Alaska Shootout lost in the semifinal, leaving us another also-ran to beat in the final. Lamar was supposed to be a contender in the Southland; how was Alan Major supposed to know they'd be lousy?

Having been tested by Davidson, destroyed by Miami and tested by Florida St, we'll be ready for conference play. And I think we'll do fine.

This deserves to be in the print edition! I dont buy the print edition.. but I know everything thats not in there. The observer is stupid and has always hated the 49ers! Especially when we were in CUSA...blah blah blah conspiracy blah blah. Who the f*** does the sports editor think he is???

Team flew from Miami. Got there the day before. Bad info. As for schedule strength, who can control what other schools do? Oral Roberts won 27 games last year. Lamar was in the NCAA tournament. Davidson was a as well.

I don't agree with all of these comments but I do agree with this one: "This deserves to be in the print edition! The observer is stupid and has always hated the 49ers!" I think most true Niners feel the same way. Maybe not the stupid part but the rest of it.

I know the 10-1 start is against a weak schedule and the loss at Miami was just awful, but in today's paper I was disappointed to read pre-game articles on the game AT Duke and the UNC game AT Texas, but only saw a short set of notes on the CHARLOTTE 49ers game in CHARLOTTE. Odd. Consistent. But, odd.